Wolves Head To Cheltenham

Hopefully both halves tonight will see us play some good football and show some good hunger"

Kenny Jackett

Wolves will kick off their pre-season schedule ahead of the return to the Sky Bet Championship with two teams playing 45 minutes each at Cheltenham tonight (7.45pm).

After just over a fortnight back training at Compton, tonight’s trip to Whaddon Road is the first of three friendlies in six days with Shamrock Rovers (Monday) and Bohemians (Wednesday) to follow as the squad head to Dublin at the weekend.

And Head Coach Kenny Jackett plans to give his senior players plenty of pitch time as they return to competitive action with the big Championship kick-off now just a month away.

“We’ve got games tonight, on Monday and on Wednesday and we’re really looking forward to them,” says Jackett.

“We will take two teams to Cheltenham and everyone will play 45 minutes.

“As we are at the moment we will be at full strength and where I want to be with having two good teams playing and putting out two well-organised teams for 45 minutes each.

“If there are a few younger players in the second half team then great because they are the ones who should be pushing those in the first team.

“Obviously we want to win but we also want it to be a good exercise as we start building up the game experience again.

“This is the next stage of pre-season, and hopefully both halves tonight will see us play some good football and show some good hunger.”

Whilst still looking to add to his squad before the deadline in August, Jackett is pleased with the quality now available to him as he heads into his second Molineux season.

“If I go through and put two people per position then it is the strongest 22 I’ve had since I have been here,” he says.

“That is a good thing, and it is something that is needed, because you always need cover and competition.

“The side was pretty settled at the end of last season – there was probably a little bit of difference maybe with Lee Evans and Jack Price changing slightly but not too many more people.

“James Henry was generally the first sub, that’s the way the season finished, and we’ve still got all that team retained.

“After that you can put out another back four – Doherty, Ebanks-Landell, Kortney Hause and Kevin Foley – and we’ve got options all the way through.

“And Dominic Iorfa finished the season playing games for Shrewsbury, so we are not in a bad position.

“Tommy Rowe has come in and strengthened our midfield area and in terms of the wingers and those who can play off the frontman, it’s quite a strong area where we have got five players for three positions.

“There are a lot of senior players in that area where I would be able to name three to start and have two substitutes to come on with that variation and change from the bench should they all remain fit.”

Jackett has also hinted that tonight’s squad will be very similar to that which is heading to Ireland.

“We’ll take an extra keeper and maybe one young player but after that it will be the lads who play at Cheltenham,” he added.

Jackett has also confirmed that Kevin Doyle and Stephen Ward will not be among the travelling party for Ireland.

Both players returned to training this week and are currently working with the group with Steve Hodge.

“We’re in a situation where both of the lads have come back and are working hard at pre-season and no moves are imminent and nothing on the horizon,” said Jackett.

“I’m sure for them it’s about working hard and getting fit and I am sure they will have their eye on their next move.

“That’s where we are at the moment but if things suddenly changed or we had injuries I’d never close the door completely because you never know the circumstances in football.

“They have both been professional and perhaps expected it after the way things went last season that I would push on and pursue the Championship with the group I have got.”

Wolves will kick off their pre-season schedule ahead of the return to the Sky Bet Championship with two teams playing 45 minutes each at Cheltenham tonight (7.45pm).

After just over a fortnight back training at Compton, tonight’s trip to Whaddon Road is the first of three friendlies in six days with Shamrock Rovers (Monday) and Bohemians (Wednesday) to follow as the squad head to Dublin at the weekend.

And Head Coach Kenny Jackett plans to give his senior players plenty of pitch time as they return to competitive action with the big Championship kick-off now just a month away.

“We’ve got games tonight, on Monday and on Wednesday and we’re really looking forward to them,” says Jackett.

“We will take two teams to Cheltenham and everyone will play 45 minutes.

“As we are at the moment we will be at full strength and where I want to be with having two good teams playing and putting out two well-organised teams for 45 minutes each.

“If there are a few younger players in the second half team then great because they are the ones who should be pushing those in the first team.

“Obviously we want to win but we also want it to be a good exercise as we start building up the game experience again.

“This is the next stage of pre-season, and hopefully both halves tonight will see us play some good football and show some good hunger.”

Whilst still looking to add to his squad before the deadline in August, Jackett is pleased with the quality now available to him as he heads into his second Molineux season.

“If I go through and put two people per position then it is the strongest 22 I’ve had since I have been here,” he says.

“That is a good thing, and it is something that is needed, because you always need cover and competition.

“The side was pretty settled at the end of last season – there was probably a little bit of difference maybe with Lee Evans and Jack Price changing slightly but not too many more people.

“James Henry was generally the first sub, that’s the way the season finished, and we’ve still got all that team retained.

“After that you can put out another back four – Doherty, Ebanks-Landell, Kortney Hause and Kevin Foley – and we’ve got options all the way through.

“And Dominic Iorfa finished the season playing games for Shrewsbury, so we are not in a bad position.

“Tommy Rowe has come in and strengthened our midfield area and in terms of the wingers and those who can play off the frontman, it’s quite a strong area where we have got five players for three positions.

“There are a lot of senior players in that area where I would be able to name three to start and have two substitutes to come on with that variation and change from the bench should they all remain fit.”

Jackett has also hinted that tonight’s squad will be very similar to that which is heading to Ireland.

“We’ll take an extra keeper and maybe one young player but after that it will be the lads who play at Cheltenham,” he added.

Jackett has also confirmed that Kevin Doyle and Stephen Ward will not be among the travelling party for Ireland.

Both players returned to training this week and are currently working with the group with Steve Hodge.

“We’re in a situation where both of the lads have come back and are working hard at pre-season and no moves are imminent and nothing on the horizon,” said Jackett.

“I’m sure for them it’s about working hard and getting fit and I am sure they will have their eye on their next move.

“That’s where we are at the moment but if things suddenly changed or we had injuries I’d never close the door completely because you never know the circumstances in football.

“They have both been professional and perhaps expected it after the way things went last season that I would push on and pursue the Championship with the group I have got.”

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* Tickets are only available on the gate tonight, with Wolves fans housed in the Hazlewoods Stand. Admission is £10 for adults and £5 juniors/concessions. Kick off is 7.45pm.

UPDATES FROM TONIGHT'S GAME WILL APPEAR ON THE CLUB'S OFFICIAL TWITTER SITE @officialwolves